Swedish Hockey League team Färjestad BK has terminated the contract of defenseman Cal Foote two days after signing the 27-year-old to a one-year contract. Foote was one of five members of Team Canada’s 2018 World Junior squad who were acquitted on sexual assault charges in July 2025 following an alleged incident in June 2018 involving a woman in a London, Ont., hotel room.
Färjestad BK said in a statement that they initially conducted a “thorough review” of Foote through “several conversations with people with good insight into the matter,” before signing him on Tuesday. However, their “overall perception and assessment” of Foote changed in recent days, leading them to end their association with Foote on Thursday.
Färjestad BK avslutar samarbetet med Cal Foote https://t.co/Ihp6xtppLQ
— Färjestad BK (@farjestad_bk) July 30, 2026
“We have taken note of the reactions from and held discussions with supporters, members, partners, leaders, employees and others who care about Färjestad BK,” the team said in a statement on Thursday. “Many have shared their concern, disappointment and questions regarding our decision to sign the player. Thank you to everyone who has reached out and shared their thoughts.
“…Developments over the last few days have made it clear that the situation has escalated to a scale that impacts people in and around our club in a way we cannot ignore. The conditions necessary to allow the team, the club or the player in question to maintain the focus required to perform their duties effectively are no longer there. In light of this, we have a responsibility to act based on the situation as it stands right now. We have decided to end the partnership based on these facts.
“We are aware that this decision will not make questions and emotions disappear overnight. Our hope is that we can now begin to reunite the club and look ahead to the upcoming season.”
Foote last played professionally for the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves this past year, scoring four goals and 18 points in 48 games. The defenseman was a 2017 first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning and played 145 career NHL games. He scored five career goals and amassed 20 career points across three teams, including the Lightning, the Nashville Predators and the New Jersey Devils.
Foote remains a free agent. Meanwhile, the four other players implicated — forwards Dillon Dube, Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton and goaltender Carter Hart — have since joined pro teams. The NHL reinstated all five players last September, and they were all eligible to play NHL games as of last Dec. 1.
Hart joined the Vegas Golden Knights last October before playing in last month’s Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes. Dube recently signed a free-agent contract with the St. Louis Blues on July 1. McLeod signed a three-year contract with Kontinental Hockey League team Avangard Omsk last October. Formenton has spent the last three seasons with HC Ambrì-Piotta of the Swiss League. The Ottawa Senators previously held his rights, but the team has since confirmed to The Athletic that the forward is no longer on their reserve list.
This story will be updated.
